Yun Ruoxi’s panic was not an act.
She was genuinely confused at the moment.
It wasn’t because she suddenly ran into Lin Zhen, but because the release format of Episode 4 was completely unreasonable.
Since finishing the OP and theme song recordings, she had been eagerly awaiting the launch of Episode 4.
But one month passed, then two months…
She had been waiting for a full ten months! Until just ten minutes ago, the anime screen in the upper right corner finally lit up again.
Ten months, ten months!
Do you know how she spent those ten months?
Yun Ruoxi had assumed the production team was planning a time skip, which explained the late release of Episode 4.
But to her surprise, they actually used a montage technique, condensing the events of the past ten months into just ten minutes.
Worse still, they gave her no screen time at all, completely fading her out to the level of an extra.
Yun Ruoxi had every reason to suspect this was deliberate—a malicious move by the production team targeting her.
After all, in the past, even during montage sequences, her screen in the upper right corner would synchronize with the viewers outside the time frame.
Though the time flow would slow drastically, she at least had a chance to grab some scenes.
But now, it was as if she simply didn’t exist.
“Could it be because my changes to the plot in the last episode were too drastic, forcing the production team to pull the pacing back, so an invisible hand directly used this method to avoid my interference and sneakily skip over ten months of story?”
Yun Ruoxi couldn’t help but feel alarmed by such interference.
After all, this kind of action directly struck at her foundation—the ability to alter the plot.
However, since she had now reappeared on screen and everything seemed restored, it meant this interference was highly limited.
Having already reached second place in the Popularity Ranking, she was undoubtedly a key character in the first season of Starry Sky.
Even the production team wouldn’t dare strip her of screen time so casually.
“System, am I correct in my assumptions?”
Yun Ruoxi asked the system in her heart, spending ten thousand points of popularity to get an answer.
【Host’s guess is basically correct】
【The anime world has Plot Inertia Correction and Plot Kill Mechanisms. Only highly popular characters can avoid these mechanisms. Please maintain your current Popularity Ranking to prevent forced Plot Kill caused by Plot Inertia Correction】
Understood.
“Damn, the audience really guessed it right. This is worse than the production team simply holding a grudge against me!”
Her thoughts flashed by in an instant.
In the virtual space, not even a second passed before Lin Zhen assumed Yun Ruoxi was just stammering for words.
The girl bit her lip shyly, showing a somewhat awkward and timid expression as she whispered,
“I… I’m completely normal.”
“If you were normal, you wouldn’t have disappeared for ten months.” Lin Zhen looked at her, who almost had “I have a problem” written all over her face.
This guy really wasn’t good at lying…
Wait, maybe not. Last time during the combat assessment when he went easy, she actually acted pretty well, didn’t she?
“Are you deliberately avoiding me?”
Lin Zhen touched his chin, a sharp glint of so-called “wisdom” flashing in his eyes.
“Did something happen after that combat assessment?”
“I…” Yun Ruoxi twisted the hem of her clothes and hesitated, “Avoiding you… it’s just, just…”
「Detective Lin Zhen, Yun Ruoxi is sweating」
「So sharp, male lead…」
「Shy and bashful little Ruoxi is so cute」
「I want to catch one and keep it as a pet (laugh)」
“What is it?”
Before Lin Zhen could finish speaking, the system suddenly issued a battle warning.
They had been reminiscing for too long.
Swish!
With the warning active, Lin Zhen had no choice but to rush at Yun Ruoxi.
With some intention to test her current combat level, he went all out.
A straight punch shot toward Yun Ruoxi.
Unexpectedly, Yun Ruoxi froze for half a beat and failed to react at all, taking the punch solidly.
She grunted lowly as she was sent flying backward several meters, curling up on the ground, breathing rapidly and painfully.
「Going easy again? This time it’s too obvious」
「Imitating 0003, huh? Truly the cat-loving Ruoxi」
「Male lead didn’t hold back at all!」
“Are you okay?”
Lin Zhen was startled and rushed over anxiously.
But as soon as he got close, he froze.
Yun Ruoxi lay on the ground, legs slightly bent, her Blue Long Hair cascading like a waterfall around her.
Her tear-filled eyes were blurred, hands repeatedly wiping the corners, but tears continued to roll down.
“I, I… can’t fight anymore, boohoo.”
Lin Zhen was silent for a moment.
Seeing the system issue another warning, he decisively chose to concede.
Back in his personal space, he immediately input Yun Ruoxi’s newly obtained ID and sent a visit request.
After several minutes of waiting, it was finally approved.
Personal spaces could be customized and were the only place trainees had to relax in the combat camp.
But even so, customization consumed points, which were hard to earn, so few trainees altered their personal spaces—most kept the default Endless Starry Sky.
But Yun Ruoxi was different.
Last time, she wore a dress customized with points.
This time, she had transformed her personal space into a dreamy princess room.
Sky-blue walls, filled with plush toys everywhere.
She sat amidst the dolls, her eyes still red-rimmed, but her emotions seemed to have settled.
“What did you mean by what you just said?”
Lin Zhen stepped forward and asked gently.
“After that combat…” Yun Ruoxi lowered her head slightly.
“Whenever I enter high-speed battles, I suddenly lose my vision, my whole body trembles, as if I’m back in that arena, completely unable to fight.”
She raised her head a little.
Her tear-stained eyes looked like they were dusted with rouge, both alluring and pitiful.
“I’m not avoiding you 432, but the current me… can’t face you all anymore.”
Lin Zhen’s heart tightened.
Was it still the aftereffects from last time?
He had thought that after using the Force Field Therapy Device, Yun Ruoxi’s psychosomatic symptoms would have improved.
“The most I can barely manage now is winning five fights in a row during combat assessments. It’s already very difficult to maintain my current ranking.” Yun Ruoxi lowered her head again.
Lin Zhen pondered for a moment. “Have you tried asking the instructors for help? Maybe they can do something.”
“No… I’m afraid.”
After confessing, Yun Ruoxi seemed somewhat relieved, her expression softening.
“Though… they’re harsh, but they should be able to help with this kind of thing.” Lin Zhen comforted her.
“With your exceptional combat talent, if they want to cultivate strong warriors, they won’t just let your talent go to waste.”
“Is that so…”
Hearing the word “warrior,” Yun Ruoxi seemed to recall something and looked much more determined.
“I’ll consider it!”
“Then you have to hurry. The annual assessment is in ten days.” Lin Zhen’s expression grew serious.
“During physical training, I heard Instructor Heishan say the annual assessment will be real combat.”
Wasn’t she talked about this before? Why is she so surprised? Imagine if they didn’t cut it, 1 season only filled with training arc who gonna watch it. I really don’t like how she pretend to be weak damn it end the season already